Thursday, July 23, 2009

Don't forget that there are still 4 more maintenance classes this summer that you can sit in on. Check out the schedule below and let us know if you can make it.

Hope to see you soon.

Derailleurs, Gears, and all that other stuff down there!

Date: Saturday, July 25 (10:00am-12:00pm)Info: This in-depth workshop will define all the parts that make your bike go forward. The chain, gears, derailleurs, pivot points, pulleys, jockeys etc. All you wanted to know about your how to adjust your gears and much more!

Brakes: We love em’, but how do we fix em’?

Date: Saturday, August 1 (10:00am-12:00pm)Info: Brakes come in a variety of styles, including linear pull, side pull, center pull and coaster. This workshop will explain the different types of brakes found on bicycles, and provide detailed demonstrations of how to improve the braking quality of your bicycle.

Bicycle Wheels

Date: Saturday, August 8 (10:00am-12:00pm)Info: Wheels are made up of many parts that all require special attention. This workshop focuses on how to asses the condition of wheels, the quality of the rubber, the status of a hub, and the trueness of a wheel. The workshop will include demonstrations for how to fix a flat, adjust a hub, and true a wheel.

Bicycle Safety in the Streets

Date: Saturday, August 15 (10:00am-12:00pm)Info: Should I ride with traffic or against it? Should I ride on the sidewalk? Can I take a left hand turn in traffic on my bike? Is it even legal to ride in the road? How can I safely navigate Memphis’ city streets? Answers to all these questions and basic street safety procedures will be covered in this workshop. (Participants should bring their bicycles and helmets to participate in a demonstration ride)

All classes are located at Revolutions Community Bicycle Shop, 1000 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104FREE to Revolutions Members – $10 for non-membersPlease call or email to reserve a spot in each class or become a Revolutions member:revolutionsbikeshop@gmail.com or 901-258-3130

Either by design or accident, last week while bikers were being wooed and wowed at a meeting to discuss the CSX line, another meeting was happening across town to take comments on planned changes at the I-55/Crump interchange leading to the old bridge.The old bridge has separated sidewalks and is the only way a bicyclist or pedestrian can cross the river for many miles from Memphis.

In response to a question from a bicyclist, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) spokesman made it clear that the State considered this an Interstate project only.We all know that US interstates ban non-motorized transportation.It is not acceptable that Tennessee does not recognize the importance of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) and acknowledge that they must at least allow access to the bridge to non-motorized types of transport.

If you are also concerned about this, you can make comments directly to TDOT about their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).Comments must be postmarked no later than July 28th.Comments cannot be anonymous; they should include your name and mailing address, or any other information needed to legally establish your standing on the issue.

My comments on this project concern bicycle and pedestrian access as discussed in the DEIS in the Executive Summary under “Environmental Commitments – Social Commitments” and later on page 72, Chapter 3, part 8 “Pedestrians and Bicyclists Considerations” – 3.8.1 Affected Environment.

I understand the difficulties in designing such a complex change to an important and busy interchange, and I commend TDOT for promising to consider provisions for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations during the final design phase.Though bike lanes and/or sidewalks may not be practical or safe within the project area, provisions must provide for bicycle and pedestrian access to the French Fort neighborhood.

While the DEIS promises to consider bicycle and pedestrian access into the neighborhood, it is silent about such access to the existing sidewalks on the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River.In fact, the DEIS states, “Due to the nature of this project, safety issues may prohibit bicycle and pedestrian accommodations within much of the project ROW.”The I-55 bridge is the only Mississippi River crossing available to bicyclists and pedestrians for many miles north and south of Memphis.Importantly, it is identified as the crossing point in Memphis on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) which runs from Minnesota to Louisiana and is supported by many states and private enterprises interested in preserving and enhancing this route.

It is imperative that the final EIS recognizes the need for access to the bridge by non-motorized means in order to keep the MRT complete.Access could include sidewalks or wide lanes with appropriate speed limits and signs alerting drivers to the presence of bikes and pedestrians.At a minimum, the project must not eliminate access to the bridge from non-motorized transportation.

If anyone is free on Friday, July 24, 2009, the below meeting would be a good place to voice support for bicycle lanes along Cooper Street. It is important that as developers once again look to invest money in the urban core, the residents help shape the development to maintain the character, desires, and long-term sustainability of the neighborhood.

If you can't make it, feel free to email Chooch (cpickard@mrdcinfo.org) and express your support for bike lanes connecting Cooper-Young to Overton Square and onward to Overton Park.

The MRDC, MHI and AIA Memphis are interested in your input about the future of Overton Square. The current owners (Fisher Capital) and potential developers (AWG and Sooner Investment Realty) are still not responding to requests for more information on their plans or our suggestion of working with us to determine a solution that is acceptable to the community. The assumed plans are to demolish the south side of Madison Avenue between Florence and Cooper and place a big box retail center on the southwest end of the existing parking lot with its back to Sidestreet, the Magnolia Room and Mr. Lincoln's. This is not a sustainable solution to the site.

The MRDC's mission is to increase vitality and economic stability by promoting excellence in urban design and planning. It is important that the community comes together to share their ideas of how we'd like Overton Square to return to a sustainable walkable destination in the heart of Memphis.

The day will begin with a tour of the neighborhood and a brief presentation on the history of Overton Square. The rest of the day will consist of hearing suggestions from you from a consumer point of view as well as a design point of view. These ideas would culminate in a series of site plans and perhaps an image board or character renderings depicting the desired public realm. This may include options of saving the buildings (or portions of them) as well as options for new buildings on the site. Plans generated from the meeting will be shared with the community and the owners/developers.

The tour will begin at 9:00 am at the SW corner of Madison and Cooper. The Public Meeting will be held at Memphis Heritage immediately after the tour at approximately 10:00am. If you can't make it for the entire day, fell free to drop in and out at any time.

Please RSVP as lunch will be provided. Donations for the cost of lunch are appreciated.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tonight at Odessa there is a free film from local BMX rider Josh Beckemeyer. It's free and BYOB. I will be going there after from the Peddler Bike Shop Tuesday ride so if anyone wants to meet me in Overton Park around 7:30 we can all ride over to Odessa together. Here's more info from Odessa:

Come by Odessa for the Memphis premiere of Beck's latest movie. (I saw a sneak preview and it was incredible.) For all you Bicycle Film Fest folks, you're not gonna want to miss it. For everybody else, you still don't want to miss this. It's also the dude's birthday. So come on by.

Friday, July 17, 2009

If you find yourself with some free time today or tomorrow or the next day or the next or the next, please design a new banner for Fix Memphis. I'll pick the one I like best next Wednesday. Winner will get free entry into Memphis Downs 4 or a t-shirt or something. The only rule is that it has to say Fix Memphis.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

That is the GT Gutterball. Aluminum Frame, triple triangle design. There are some slight differences from the GTB: the graphics are different and of course the rear bridge is drilled for brakes. I could be wrong but it also looks to have a more laid back geometry.

If you're into supporting Indie Memphis and the Brooks Museum, then you'll love our next film. Visioneers, a movie about exploding people, demands of its viewers a certain experience in the common workplace.

This quirky black comedy by first time feature filmmaker Jared Drake, concerns a curious spike in cases of spontaneous human combustion at the singular Jeffers Corporation. Starring comedian Zach Galifianakis from The Hangover and Judy Greer (Kitty) from Arrested Development.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Join Revolutions Bike Shop and Friends on a slow to moderately paced bicycle ride to some of Memphis’s favorite cold dessert spots. Bring some money for dessert. The ride should be approximately 10-12 miles in length and last about 3 hours including eating time.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

There is a feature on the Memphis fixed gear scene in the newest issue of Driven Magazine. You can pick it up in many of your local bicycle, running or outdoor shops. Sorry it's not available online yet but I'll let you know when it happens.

A trusted customer came into the shop yesterday with my friend Brandon's Scott S40 Speedster. It was given to him by someone else and he ust wanted to air the tires up and ride it once then give it to another person, as it was too small for him. I took it to a stand and my memory clicked. I called Brandon and he read the serial number from his records and it was a match! I informed my customer that the bike was stolen and he's now helping to track down the theif. The theif may not be apprehended but at least for now Brandon has his bike back.

It is once again time for the Wagenschutz Annual Mid-Summer Blowout! Come hang out, bring some food, bring some drinks, bring some bikes, bring some friends!

We will have some food available, but please bring some to share. The grill will be available for cooking on as well.

Plan on playing some games in the backyard as well as some water activities.

As always - the fireworks battle will probably ensue. Bring your weapon of choice. No rules death match, except no fireworks in the house this year. While the fusia-colored stain in the carpet from last year's smoke bomb attack is a great conversation starter, it does nothing for the aesthetic of the carpet.

Around 8:00-8:30 we will ride our bikes downtown to watch the fireworks on the river bluff.